all around caliber

[Chase0621]

hello everyone ! I'm picking up my first and only high powered rifle for the time being. I'm trying to decide the best all around caliber so I'll just need one rifle.


I will be hunting mostly whitetail. but will be heading out west to hunt elk, mule deer, antelope, etc.


calibers:
1.) 6.5 creedmoore (seemed small for elk and big game)
2.) 30-06(good all around)
3.) 300 win mag( more $... more recoil)

after doing research I'm leaning toward 30-06 for bullet selection and less recoil.

what are your all opinion I'm open to any calibers suggestions.

I do not have problems with bad recoil flinch. but I have never shot 300 mag

 

[JimP]

Of the ones that you listed I would go with the .300 Win mag just for the added power. The 06 will do it all too.

One that you left out but should look at is the 7mm Rem mag. It's recoil isn't much more than a 06 and it will do a bit more at the longer ranges.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I shot a 30-06 for years. If you reload, you can do almost anything with it.

 

[ivorytip]

I love my .270 but 7mm is nearly impossible to beat IMO

 

[6mm Remington]

Hard to beat a 30-06 for everything on your list. Great cartridge and really good factory loads out there if you don't reload. Hard to beat a good 165 or 180 gr. Accubond or Partition for everything!
David

 

[BuzzH]

From your list, 30/06...but if it were me, I would go 7-08 and never look back.

There is NO animal in NA that I wouldn't hunt with a 7-08 including grizzlies.

 

[Catahoula12]

I have two 30-06’s..... I reload this cartridge and I have to say there are lots of options. However, I do hunt with my .270Win and a 7mm-08. I am confident with all 3 for taking elk and deer. That said, the .300 Win Mag is also no slouch. Expensive to shoot...perhaps. Also, as mentioned the 7mm Rem Mag is an awesome caliber. I would not hesitate either with the 6.5 Creedmoor shooting the Hornady 143g ELD-X bullet on elk and deer. Lots of options here for your posted choices. Bottom line... they are really all great. Best in your search and let us know what you decide.

 

[Gr8bawana]

Hard to beat a 30-06 for everything on your list. Great cartridge and really good factory loads out there if you don't reload. Hard to beat a good 165 or 180 gr. Accubond or Partition for everything!
David

Sticking to your list.
I must agree with 6MM on the 30-06. The 30-06 is a very good all around cartridge even if you don't hand load. Ammo is relatively cheap and plentiful with a very wide range of bullet weights to suit your needs.
The .300 is a killer on both ends.
If you get a 6.5 Creedmoor you will have to grow a man bun.

 

[Chase0621]

ok well I'm going go with the howa 30-06 rifle 22 inch barrel thanks for the help everyone.

you all ever tried a Howa rifle?

 

[hoshour]

I love my .270 but 7mm is nearly impossible to beat IMO

I feel the same way

 

[JimP]

ok well I'm going go with the howa 30-06 rifle 22 inch barrel thanks for the help everyone.

you all ever tried a Howa rifle?

I believe that you will like your choice for a all around rifle caliber and rifle.

Howa is a good rifle, the Weatherby Vanguard is made by Howa and the one that I have is a real shooter quite capable of sub MOA out to 250 yards where I have my .25-06 sighted in at.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Sounds like a good choice to me. What optics are you going with?

 

[Timberstalker]

30-06 is a great choice! If the three choices I would go with the .300 WM. Same caliber but much faster. Reloads don’t cost much more than the 06, just more powder.

 

[Bonecollector]

Of those listed, I'd say 30-06.
There are many a few others that would fill in the gaps. Another vote for 7MM from me.
I'd seriously consider it before "pulling the trigger" on the 30-06.

 

[Chase0621]

I have a Viper Pst FFP 3-15 x 44 I will post a picture when I get it all set up...

any good scopes rings you all prefer?

 

[Mr Drysdale]

ok well I'm going go with the howa 30-06 rifle 22 inch barrel thanks for the help everyone.

you all ever tried a Howa rifle?

Good choice on caliber and yes I have owned a Howa 1500 rifle in 7mm Rem Mag. It was a shooter and the smoothest action of any rifle I have ever owned. Good Luck.

 

[BrettKoenecke]

Good choice.

I think people should do what they think best and do what works for them but I myself look at 7mm rifles and wonder why would I do that? Why would I buy a rifle that size and weight and not go up to .30 caliber? They all seem quite a bit longer and heavier than rifles in standard cartridges.

 

[Winchester]

30-06 is a great choice. It will do everything you need.

 

[Daubs]

I faced same decision 15+ years ago, but my options were more limited being a lefty. I chose the 30-06 for all the reasons listed above. In my mind a truly "do it all" caliber. Got Browning A-Bolt and topped with a Leupold Vari-X II 3-9 / 40mm. 1 inch groups all day long.

I found a 7mm Rem Mag a few years later via gun broker (a lefty gun). It's great looking gun, but i'm still trying to find the right loads that shoot as well as my Browning.

The -06 ain't sexy, or trendy...it's just a "GET IT DONE" kind of rifle. Good luck.

 

[ScottR]

.300 Win is what I am currently shooting and have shot a variety of the .30 caliber models. You can always drop grains with a reloaded ammo for smalller animals. Set up a hotter 180 or 200 grain load for elk and you are set.